Dropout Prevention Specialist

Full Job Description

Colorado Department of Education – What We Do
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) provides leadership, resources, support, and accountability to the state's 178 school districts, 1,888 schools, over 53,000 teachers, and over 3,200 administrators to help them build capacity to meet the needs of the state's approximately 905,000 public school students. In addition, CDE provides structural and administrative support to the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind and the Charter School Institute.

As the administrative arm of the State Board of Education, CDE is responsible for implementing state and federal education laws, disbursing state and federal funds, holding schools and districts accountable for performance, licensing all educators, and providing public transparency of performance and financial data.

CDE is a values-based agency that serves students, parents, and the general public by protecting public trust through ensuring adherence to laws, strong stewardship of public funds, and accountability for student performance.

CDE strives to incorporate five core values that we uphold in our work internally and externally. If you come to CDE, be prepared to incorporate Integrity, Equity, Accountability, Trust, and commitment to Service in what you do.

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

Why Work For CDE
The work we do is rewarding and impacts the students, families, educators, and communities across Colorado. Our leadership also promotes a culture that puts families and self-care as a priority. Along with meaningful work and an environment that puts employees first, the state also offers rich benefits that intend to make us an Employer of Choice!
The following is a summary of the benefits we offer:

• Flexible work schedules and flexible workplace options that may include flexible working hours, working from home, working in the office, and/or a hybrid working environment.
• Premier medical, dental, vision, and dependent life insurance options. All with a generous employer contribution keeping employee costs as low as possible.
• Employer paid short-term disability and life insurance
• Up to 160 hours of Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals
• Retirement through the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) www.copera.org
• Employer paid RTD Eco Pass (certain restrictions may apply)
• Paid professional development opportunities

A wide salary range is posted for this position and any job offer is based upon a salary analysis to comply with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The salary analysis considers relevant experience, education, certifications, and state seniority as compared to others doing substantially similar work. While most salary offers are made within the posted range, occasionally an offer is made below or above the posted range based upon this salary analysis.

Requirements

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Extended hours during the evening or the weekend may be required by business needs.
• Up to 25% Travel required within Colorado, including some overnights.
• Required to report to the work location per business needs, usually a minimum of one day per week.
• Essential Functions (ADAAA)
  • LIGHT/Office environment:
    • Required to sit, view a computer screen, and utilize a keyboard and mouse for extended periods of time.
    • May be required to lift and move up to 10 lbs of force frequently or 20 lbs occasionally.
    • Required lifting, bending, stooping, pushing, walking, etc.
    • Light work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree.
  • DL Required: Required to safely operate a motor vehicle (OR State of Colorado Fleet motor vehicle/Colorado DL required) to complete travel requirements.
    

POSITION SUMMARY:

This position will work within the Student Pathways & Engagement Unit, Dropout Prevention and Student Re-Engagement (DPSR) Office.

This individual will play a key role in helping meet the office’s goals to improve student engagement and the state’s graduation, completion, and dropout rates, and implement key aspects of the student engagement priority within Colorado Department of Education's (CDE’s) strategic plan.

The Dropout Prevention Specialist will lead efforts that expand district and school practices related to attendance, engagement, behavior, discipline and related dropout prevention strategies.

The position will work closely with other offices at CDE who support school improvement and implementation of effective practices at the secondary level.

This position will lead and manage two main projects:

• Ninth-Grade Success lead: Lead the office’s Ninth-Grade Success grant including a focus on professional learning and coaching of grantees.

• Dropout prevention training: Lead and manage professional learning opportunities related to behavior, discipline and engagement.

The final salary is anticipated to fall within the posted salary range, however, could be higher or lower depending on the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other qualifications of the preferred candidate while considering internal equity.

MAJOR DUTIES:

Ninth-Grade Success Grant:

Serve as the Ninth-Grade Success Grant lead, including:

• Facilitate monthly collaborative learning opportunities, complete site visits and design and deliver training for grantees.

• Coordinate with evaluation staff to manage end of year reporting and other data collection to support annual evaluation.

• Oversee the grantee budget process to identify appropriate allocations, create a system for budget updates and approvals and ensure grantees follow all applicable fiscal rules.

• Provide individual coaching support to grantees as needed to support implementation and problem solving.

• Manage the Request for Applications process for new grantees when funding is available.

Dropout Prevention Strategies:

Lead the design and implementation of school and district support strategies, providing professional learning and resources related to engagement, behavior, discipline and re-engagement efforts. Building school and district capacity is a key priority in CDE’s strategic plan. This may include:

• Managing the required asynchronous Expulsion Hearing Officer Training.

• Lead the development of new learning modules related to behavior and engagement to include contracting with outside vendors, developing content and managing project elements.

• Serve as a member of CDE holistic support teams to align support across CDE for identified Colorado districts.

• Design and lead collaborative learning sessions that may include formal training, communities of practice or learning cohorts for districts or schools within the following topic areas:

  • Student engagement

  • Strengthening discipline and behavior systems

  • Alternative education strategies

• Lead implementation of strategy recommendations from the legislatively created Discipline Task Force.

• Identify effective practices or bright spots that can be highlighted within areas of work.

Coordinate with other CDE offices, including the Office of Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness, Office of Innovation and Improvement, Office of Learning Supports and Office of School and District Transformation to support secondary school redesign, school improvement and other efforts.

This may include partnering on initiatives, grants or training opportunities.

• Support DPSR efforts to improve the use of the dropout prevention framework that may include:

  • Engaging stakeholders in how to implement strategies effectively.

  • Updating and effectively using policy and practices reviews.

  • Development and management of CDE offered training.

• Develop and maintain knowledge of research, tools, strategies and policy efforts to measure and improve dropout prevention efforts and engaged learning environments for students.

• Collaborate with multiple CDE offices to coordinate and align efforts that advance secondary school outcomes including work with the Grants Program Administration Office, Office of Learning Supports, Health Education Services, Exceptional Student Services Unit, Office of Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness, Adult Education Initiatives, Office of Student Supports, Office of Innovation and Improvement and School and District Transformation.

• Assists with special projects as needed.

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum four (4) years' experience at the school, district or state level in implementation or support of dropout prevention strategies.

• Knowledge of and minimum two (2) years' experience in designing and facilitating adult learning opportunities.

• Minimum four (4) years' experience with project management, including establishing goals and timetables, tactical plans, monitoring progress, engaging and working with other personnel or teams, measuring results, developing contingencies and communication.

• Minimum two (2) years working on student discipline or behavior initiatives at the school or district level.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CONDITIONS:

Qualifications for Success in the Position:

• Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate with internal and external customers (e.g. school districts, other CDE units).

• Detailed analytical and problem-solving abilities including attention to detail, consistency and accuracy.

• Experience managing large sets of data and analyzing results.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, as well as on a team.

• Experience using the Microsoft suite, Google Suite, Zoom and other commonly used software.

Preferred Qualifications (Preferred/Not Required):

• Experience in facilitating groups of school staff in dropout prevention, engagement and intervention efforts at the high school level.

• Experience with the suspension and/or expulsion process.

• Colorado Administrators certification

Conditions of Employment (Required):

• Must be willing and able to submit to the pre-screening process and pass a background check.
• Ability and willingness to independently determine, obtain means, and complete required travel (percentage 25%)
• Work extended schedule per business needs
• Report to work location per business needs
• Valid Driver's License Required: Required to safely operate a motor vehicle to complete travel requirements.
  

Additional Information

Complete Applications must include:

• Completed Online Application: Required - Submitted through our ATS.
• Resume: Required
• Cover Letter: Required

**Failure to submit a complete application as defined above by the announcement close will result in your application being removed from consideration. **

** Resumes and Cover Letters WILL NOT be reviewed for minimum qualification screening.

FOR CURRENT OR FORMER EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE OF COLORADO:

Per the requirements of the Step Pay Program implemented on July 1, 2024, any State employee must be paid a rate that is equal to or greater than the appropriate step pay rate within their classification’s pay range based on completed years in their current class series as of June 30. All current and former State employees must ensure that your entire work history within the State Classified System, including at Institutions of Higher Education, is indicated in your application so that your time-in-series can be calculated accurately.

Email Address:
All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be conducted via email. Include a working email address on your application; one that is checked often as time-sensitive correspondence such as exam information or notification will take place via email. Please set up your e-mail to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "info@governmentjobs.com" addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam-filtered email.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and Equal Employment Opportunity
The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, a medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

The Colorado Department of Education is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to hr@cde.state.co.us.